Container



Oct. 31, 1933. R. s. BLOOMER CONTAINER Filed Oct. 21, 1931 11v VEN TOR fiZer-Zflflbamer Z 4, K ,Z A T7010 N15 J LIU z, Mm 1 W fi Patented Oct. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Bloomer Bros. Company, Newark, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application October 21, 1931. Serial No. 570,066 7'Claims. (01. 229 -29) This invention relates to containers of the class having integral transverse partition members arranged to retain fragile articles, such for example as eggs, and pertains more particularly to a new and improved longitudinal partition member for such containers.

One object of the invention is the provision of such a longitudinal member having an improved, simple, and, satisfactory cushioning member which will protect the eggs against breakage.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a longitudinal member which both locks the transverse members in. erected position and resiliently supports the fragile articles, such for. example ,as eggs.

A further object is the provision of a longitudinal member of thiskind which provides separate independent resilient bottoms; for each of the article receiving compartments; 3

To these and other endsthe invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts; all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

, In the drawing:. 1

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a-container constructed in accordance with thepreferred'embodiment of the invention, the cover being shown in open position and partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along, the center line of the container illustrated in'Fig. 1, the cover being shown in closed position;

. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view takentransversely of the container illustrated in Fig. 1,

showing the cover in closed position;

Fig. 4 is a view. similar to Fig. 3 with the longitudinal partition member removed and with the cover in open position and partly broken away;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the container illustrated in Fig. 1, with the cushioning member removed and showing the transverse partition members or flaps in the elevated position; H Fig. 6 is a plan view of the preferred form of the central longitudinal partition member in the open or flat position before being applied to the container, and I i Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, view ofthe cover locking strip showing the relation of thelocking lugs front 13,, and a cover 14 having an integral locking flap 15. The front 13 is lower than the back 12 and has formed integral therewith-a false top which extends the full width of the container, and which is provided along its free longitudino.1 edge-with an attaching strip 20 which isbent upwardly and adhesively or otherwise permanently secured to the back 12, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.. The false top has formed therefrom,'in .a manner to be presently described; a a5 plurality of transverse partition members 21 which extend substantially, the full width of the top, and which are connected to the front 13 and strip 20 by means of integral triangular corner pieces 22. 'All of'the parts are preferably made from a single sheet of cardboard, or other similar material, suitably scored, folded, and pasted to form the structure illustrated in Fig. 4. I

The transverse partitions 21 are formed by slitting the false top (see Fig. 5) along the lines 25, 26, and 2'7, and scoringalong the lines 28 which form one edge of the corner pieces 22. The score lines 28 constitute hinged connections between the corner pieces 22 and the partitions 21, and enable the latter to be swung down at right angles to 0 the top, as illustrated in Fig. 4. ,The corner pieces 22 thus not only secure the transverse partition members 21 to the front 13 and strip 20, but those adjacent thefront 13 cooperate with the locking flap 15 to lockthe cover 14 in closed) position. 86

'To enable these front corner pieces to lock the cover, the flap 15 is provided with a plurality of L-shaped notches 30, the. edges of which are beveled asshown at 31, Fig. 7. When the cover 14 is closed, the flap'15 is engaged with the inner face of the, front 13 andthenotches 30 engage the corner pieces 22 to lock the-cover in closed position, in the manner well known in the art; Each of'the transverse members 21 is provided with a vertically disposed slot or notch 35 extending downwardly from the upper edge thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and adapted'toreceive a central longitudinal partition member generally indicated by the numeral 40 (Fig. 6). This longitudinal member is preferably in the form of a single sheet of cardboard, or similar material, folded upon itself along the central line 41 to form two superimposed upstanding panels 42 andf43 symmetrically disposed with relation-to the ionticle, such as an egg. The panels are provided which is of such a width as to fit readily between two adjacent transverse members 21, thussecurely locking these members against oscillation; The member 40 is also provided with end tabs 47,

of a width less than the tabs46 andcooperating therewith to retain the end transverse members in vertical position. I

In containers of the class-above described, it

is desirable to provide means for resilientlysupporting the articles within the container. It has been found that thetabs 46 are admirably adapted to provide such supports. To this end the panels 42 and 43 are lightly scored along the parallel lines 50, see Fig. 6, and the tabs 46 are extended obliquely outwardly and downwardly to rest on the bottom ll'adjacent the back 12 and the front 13, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. tabsthus extend laterally under the cells 44 and provide separate independent bottoms therefor. (While the outerfree edges of the tabs are supported bythe bottom, the inner edges are held in elevated position by the panels 42 and 43, which are in turn supported by the transverse members 21; The tabs thus provide inclined bot-' f toms for the cells which resiliently support the eggs and protect them against breakage. Although the panels 42 and 43 and the tabs 46 have been shown as being made from a single piece of material, it isevident that they may be divided I along the line 41' to 'forrnltwo' separate members.

When the carton ls'to be filledit is opened in the usual manner and the transverse members are swung downwardly into vertical position, as shown in Fig. 4. The member 40 is then folded on the line 41 and is inserted in the slots 350i the. transverse members; the "cushioning tabs 46 then being spread-outwardly as shown in Fig. 3 to provide resilient bottoms for the cells 44. -'The articles are then placed in the cells a'ndtend-to depress the tabs 46 slightly. When, however, the cover is moved to closedposition it'engages the tops of the articles Tca'using them to move downwardly and thus further bending-or depressing the tabs 46, the amount ofbending of the separate tabslbeing directlyproportional tothe size oithe article supported thereon. When the tabs are thus depressed;- the panels 42 and 43 will rest on thebottom of the notches 35, thus'providing a support for the inner end of the tabs 46. "By means of this arrangement the eggs are resiliently supported above the bottom 11 and. are free to move downwardly when-the cover is moved to closed position, orwhen pressure is applied thereto, 'thusiaccording'lyreducing the likelihoodof breakage; This equalizing action of theseparate tabs 46also tends to give theeggs a more uniform appearance when the container is open for display.

It is evident uponinspection of Fig. 3 that when the cushioning tabs 46"are deflected, the free edges thereof tend to move outwardly. This outward thrust is resisted wholly by the back 12 and the front l3of the container, so "that these members may be consid ered broadly as abutment means for preventingoiitward movementofthe portions 46. It is also evident from Fig. 3 that the two opposite portions 46 form in effect an inverted V-shaped cushioning member, the central portion of which is folded upon itself to provide the upstanding panels 42 and 43 which constitute the central longitudinal partition member. While the back 12 and front 13 provide abutment meansfor the tabs 46, the bottom 11 and members 21 provide a support therefor.

From'the foregoing description it is apparerie that the cushioning members 46 not only afford separate resilient bottoms for the cells 44, but also provide means for securing and bracing the transverse members in vertical position. The panels 42 and 43, on the other hand, not only provide the central longitudinal partition memher, but also constitute a stiffening rib which gives strength and rigidity to the entire con- .tainer. By means of this arrangement the parts are held in proper assembled relation and the articles are effectively protected against breakage.

While the present embodiment has been described in connection with egg cartons, it is obvious that the same construction may beflused in other types of containers. It is" also obvious that the number of longitudinal partition mem-- bers maybe increased to provide a container having a greater number of rows of cells. The present invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise construction disclosed, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling Within the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim '1. A container for fragile articles comprising a body having a bottom and front and rear corners, a partitionmember integral with and extending-across said body, and a piece of flat sheet material folded upon itself to provide an upstanding partition portion extending substantially-atright angles to said partition member and cushioning portions extending obliquely downwardly and outwardly toward said front and rear corners and having edges resting on said bottom to provide inclined cushioning bottoms forcompartrnents formed by said partition membar and partition portion.

2. A- container for fragile articles comprising a body having a bottom and sides, a partition member extending across said body and having a slot therein, and a piece of sheet material having a slot'therein and being folded upon itself to provide an upstanding partition portion extendingat an angle to said partition member and being received at least partially in said slot in said partition member, said partition member being received at least partially in said slot in said sheet material, and said sheet material extending obliquely downwardly and outwardly to engage said bottom'aoljacent said sides to provide inclined cushioning bottoms for compartments formed by said partition member and partition portion.

3. A container for fragile articles comprising a bodyhaving a'bottom and sides, a series of transversepartition members extending across said body and having slots in their upper edges, and a piece of sheet material folded upon itself and extending downwardly'from the fold into said slots, said sheet material having portions extending outwardly and downwardly between said transverse partition members to provide cushioning bottoms for spaces between said transverse members, said outwardly and downwardly extending portions terminating in edges resting on said bottom adjacent and substantially in engagement with said sides so that said sides hold said edges against outward movement.

a. A container for fragile articles comprising a body having a bottom, a series of transverse partition members extending across said body, a piece of sheet material extending longitudinally of said body to provide a longitudinal partition portion, and slots in said sheet material forming a series of tongues extending obliquely down- Wardly and away from said longitudinal partition portion, the outer ends of said tongues resting upon the bottom of said body to provide inclined cushioning bottoms for spaces between said partition members.

5. A container for fragile articles comprising a body having a bottom, a partition member formed integrally with the body and mounted for oscillation within said body about a substantially horizonal axis, and a cushioning element partially embracing said partition member to prevent oscillation thereof, said cushioning element being supported adjacent one end from said partition member, another end of said element resting upon and being supported by said bottom.

6. A container for fragile articles comprising a body having a bottom, means including transverse partition members extending across said body for subdividing said body into a plurality of article receiving compartments, and means forming an obliquely inclined resilient cushioning bottom for each of said compartments, each of said cushioning bottoms when in use comprising a piece of sheet material resting upon said body bottom adjacent one side of its compartment and elevated above said body bottom and hung from said transverse partition members adjacent an opposite side of its said compartment, each cushioning bottom at its elevated side being curved upwardly and extending substantially vertically upwardly for a substantial distance.

7. A container for fragile articles comprising a body having a bottom, a series of cross partitions spaced from each other, a longitudinal partition interengaged with said cross partitions and supported by them, said longitudinal partition having an upstanding substantially vertical portion for subdividing space within said body into separate article-receiving compartments, and tongues extending from said longitudinal partition at a point above said bottom obliquely downwardly to said 'bottom and resting thereon to provide inclined cushioning supports for articles placed in the spaces between said cross partition.

ROBERT S. BLOOMER. 

